How to get health insurance if you are unemployed

 Unemployment health insurance protects you against unexpected medical expenses while you are left without employer-sponsored health insurance. It’s a wise investment considering that just 48% of people have savings that would last three months for general expenses.

If you’re unemployed you may be able to get an affordable health insurance plan through the Marketplace, with savings based on your income and household size.

Your household size and income, not your employment status, determine what health coverage you’re eligible for and how much help you’ll get paying for coverage.

How do you get Health Insurance if you lose your job?

There are many ways to get health insurance if you lose your job. The first is COBRA, which allows you to keep your same insurance plan but can be expensive. Becoming unemployed also qualifies you for a special enrollment period, which means you can purchase any new insurance policy for up to 60 days after you lose your job. In some states, short-term health coverage is an affordable option that can keep you insured for up to a year while you look for new work.

What is the cheapest Health Insurance?

Short-term and catastrophic coverage plans are usually the cheapest health insurance options for anyone who has recently lost their job. However, there are downsides to both. Short-term coverage only lasts for up to one year and is banned or restricted in some states. You’ll need to be under 30 years old or meet low-income requirements to qualify for catastrophic coverage, and even if you do, those low premiums come at the expense of extremely high deductibles.

To find the best health insurance for unemployment, we looked at policies from many insurance companies across the country. After thoroughly evaluating coverage options, pricing, flexibility, and benefits, we’ve identified the six best providers to stay insured while you look for your next job.

6 available Health Insurance for unemployed of 2022:

1- Sidecar Health

- Sidecar Health’s low-cost, no-commitment health insurance is flexible and affordable, making it the best overall for unemployed individuals.

- Available only in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

- Sidecar Health is bringing innovation to health insurance with a totally reinvented approach to getting coverage. Instead of showing an insurance card at your doctor’s office, Sidecar Health sends you a payment card that is used to pay for your visit in cash. Since you’re effectively paying out of pocket using the plan benefits, you can visit any doctor without being limited to a provider network.

- Low monthly premiums.

- Enroll and cancel at any time.

2-  United Healthcare

- United Healthcare is our top choice for the unemployment health insurance category thanks to their expansive network, an impressive range of added benefits, and flexible TriTerm policy allowing up to three years of coverage.

- Available policies extend to individual health insurance, group options, dental, and vision. They also offer Medigap, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and prescription drug plans.

- United Healthcare is a giant among health insurance providers, with a network covering more than 1.3 million doctors and 6,000 hospitals in the United States. With an A rating for their financial stability from AM Best, United also boasts an unparalleled range of benefits and a massive range of plans.

- Excellent reputation.

- Online quotation and purchasing system.

- Large provider network.

- Smartphone app that integrates with medical records.

- Options without special enrollment periods.

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3- All Cigna

- All Cigna individual health insurance plans include free access to two of the largest virtual care networks in the United States, making Cigna our choice as best for telehealth.

- Access to telehealth services can be a lifesaver for anyone dealing with unemployment. Not only does virtual care save you the time and cost of getting to a doctor’s office, but you can also even get remote treatment for some minor ailments without having to pay for an in-person visit. Cigna includes $0 telehealth visits with all of its individual plans through partnerships with MDLive and Amwell, two of the largest telemedicine providers in the United States.

- All individual plans include $0 virtual care

- Partners with two major telehealth networks

- $25 monthly copay limit on insulin

- Offers 24/7 customer service

- Dental coverage starts at $19 per month

4- BlueCross BlueShield

- BlueCross BlueShield’s catastrophic policies are the best catastrophic coverage in our review because they're the most economical option for unemployed individuals who can’t afford standard health insurance.

- Plans available in all 50 states

- Offers a dedicated plan for adults under 30

5- Oscar

- Oscar offers the best value for family health insurance that won’t eat up your savings fund while you’re unemployed.

- When you become unemployed and lose company-sponsored health insurance, your dependents will also be dropped from coverage. For large families, the cost of maintaining insurance during periods of unemployment can be astronomical. Thankfully, Oscar offers a few options to help reduce costs. The insurer’s plans are eligible for tax credits that can significantly reduce your monthly premiums if your income is less than four times the federal poverty level.

- Cap on family deductibles

- Eligible for tax credits

- Fully functional smartphone app

- Free concierge and virtual visits

- Pays up to $100 per year for step tracking

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6- Ambetter

- Most Ambetter plans can be supplemented with dental insurance starting at just $12 per month, a better deal than any other insurer, and our choice as best with dental.

- Unemployed individuals often find themselves having to purchase separate dental insurance or forego it entirely. With Ambetter, you can add dental and vision coverage to most policies for around $12 per month. Coverage can be purchased on the marketplace and is surprisingly affordable; in our test markets, Ambetter was consistently in the top three cheapest insurers.

- Dental coverage available with most plans for as little as $12

- Offers a healthy living rewards program

- Affordable premiums

- Operates a 24/7 nurse advice line

What do you do If you don’t Have Health Insurance?

If you find yourself without health insurance and need medical attention, you should be prepared to pay full out-of-pocket costs for any treatment you receive. In case of an emergency, U.S. law prohibits hospitals from refusing treatment due to your financial situation. However, if you are truly unable to afford coverage, you should see if you qualify for insurance through Medicaid. Those who don’t meet Medicaid requirements should at least consider purchasing a low-cost catastrophic plan to protect you financially in case of serious injury or illness.